Film-patching machine



1.459.822 W. E. CARLETON FILM- PATCHING' MACHINE June 26, 1923'.

Filed Sept. 10, 1920 a Sheets-Sheet 1 @513 abtcw/neq June 26, 1923. 1,459,822

- W. E. CARLETON FILM PATCHING MACHINE Filed Sept. 10 1920 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 L6 '67. 3 I 7 Q t 49 fi 61 45 /w June '26, 1923.

W. E. CARLETON FILM PATCHING MACHINE Filed Sept. 10 l920 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 m vwmtoz of Brooklyn, New York city,

Patented June 26, 1923.

WALTER E. CARLETON, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

FILM-PATCHING MACHINE.

Application filed September 10, 1920. Serial No. 409,416.

To all whom. it may concern Be it known that I, WALTER E. CARLETON, a citizen of the United States, and resident in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in F ilm-Patching Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invehtion relates to a device for use in securing together the broken ends of mo tion picture films,'devices of this type being commonly referred to as patching machines.

The present invention has for an object to enable the two ends which are to be secured together to be quickly cut at the right point and then set in-proper overlapping position to bring the patch at the desired point in the film with a proper spacing of the sprocket holes maintained.

More specifically the invention has for an object to provide a patching machine in which the location of the cutting points and th overlapping of the cut ends is done mechanically without necessitating measurement for each individual patch.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

Fig. 1 of the drawings is a plan view of a patching machine constructed according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is a face view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line %-}4{ of Fig. 3, with the presse'r foot thrown ac O Fi 5 is a detail transverse "section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a detail fragmentary transverse section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentarvlongitudinal section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 1, showing the gauge member, and film end lifter, in operative ositions.

As fiere embodied, the frame of the patch ing machine comprises an oblong table element 1 formed on the upper end of a hollow base structure 2 which has feet 3 whereby it may be fixed on a desired part. Extending transversely from side to side of the table 1, midway between opposite ends thereof, is

a shallow rectangular block 4 which is set in a complementary recess in the upper face ofthe table to be flush therewith.

Extending longitudinally of the table from the ends thereof to opposite sides of the block 4 are a pair of alined dovetail grooves 5, which form guides for a pair of slides 6 and 6 whose top faces are flush with the face of the table, the slides having pins, 7 and 8 respectively, projecting upwardly on opposite sides thereof which engage in the usual sprocket holes in the film. The pins 8 are preferably of less thickness, transverse- 1y of the machine, than the pins '7 so as to accommodate shrinkage of the film.

These slides are adapted to be moved between certain set positions, acting when moved in one direction to properly position the film ends to be cut, and when moved in the opposite direction properly overlapping the out ends for pasting together. The means here shown for moving these slides comprises the arms 10 fixed at their lower ends on transverse rock shafts 11 pivoted in bearings 12 projecting from the base 2 and having rounded upper ends 13 which engage in sockets 14 on the under sidesof the slides, the shafts 11 having handles 15 fixed thereon whereby they are turned.

The means for limiting the movement of the slides in opposite directions is preferably made adjust-able and,'as here shown, comprises a pair of threaded rods 16 fixed in the base 2 and extending longitudinally beyond the ends of the table 1, these rods passin freely through suitable apertures in arms 1% fixed to and depending from the outer ends of the slides 6 and 6', these rods each having a pair of nuts 18 and 19 threaded thereon,

one on each side of the arm 17.

Formed in the block 4, and extending also through the table 1, are a pair of transverse slots 20 in which are located a pair of knives 21, these knives being hinged, as at 22, to the block 4 adjacent the rear side of the machine and having their back edges flush with the top thereof when in closed position. The knives have handle extensions 22' whereby the are operated which project horizontally eyond the sides of the table 1 on the front side of the machine. The lower or cutting edges of the knives are preferably curved downwardly toward the front, as at 23. To enable one film end to he no I raised to clear the other, a pair of pins 24 are slidable in a pair of vertical bori-ngs exv tending through the table 1 and block 4 between the knives 21, these pins being rigidly fixed at their lower ends on a yoke-bar 25 which is adapted to be engaged on its underside by one end of alever 26 fulcrumed, as at 27, in a projection 28 on the base 1. A pair of coiled springs 29, surrounding the lower ends of the pins 24, normally press the latter downward, the downward movement being limited by the lever 26 engaging the projection 28.

Extending across the table 1 on opposite sides of the block 4 are a pair of plates 30, 30 which are hinged, as at 31, to cars 32 formed on the rear side of the table, these plates being yieldingly pressed downward.

on the table, or retained in upright position, by means of spring-pressed plungers 33 slidable in vertical sockets 34 on the rear of the table and bearing against cam elements, such as 35, on the plates. The edges of these plates which face toward the block 4 have slots 36 cut therein to accommodate the pins 7 and 8 when the slides are drawn backward.

Mounted upon the plate 30 is a gauge element 37 which is adapted to be swung downwardly over the cut end of the film and leave exposed, for the scraping ed the emulsion, the exact amount thereof which is overlapped when the film ends are joined. This gauge is hinged, as at 38, on a bracket 39 adjustable longitudinally of the plate 30, a headed screw 40 passing through a slot 41 in the bracket and being screwed into the late to secure the former on the latter. The gauge 37 is automatically returned to and held in the raised position, shown in Figs. 2 and 8, by a coiled spring 42 surrounding the hinge pintle of the gauge, the

gauge in this position being out of the way of a presser member which is adapted to be clamped down on the overlapped ends after the adhesive material has been applied.

This presser member comprises an arm 44, hinged, as at 45, to a block 46 fixed to the rear of the machine frame, and eXtending over and projecting at its free end beyond the block 4. Movably mounted on the under side of this arm 44 is a presserfoot 47 having side flanges 48 which slidably enage the sides of the arm 44, this presser oot 47 being fixed on the end of a headed .pin 49 which extends freely upward through and is guided in an apertured boss 50 on the arm, the foot being pressed downwardly by a coiled spring 51 surrounding the pin 49. To retain the arm 44 in position with the foot 47 pressed by spring 51 against the block 4, a latch arm 52 is pivoted, as at 53, to the projection 28 and carries a' pin 54 adapted to take over the bifurcated end of the arm'44. A coiled spring 55 which surrounds the hinge pintle of the arm is adapted to automatically throw the latter upward when released from the latch. The manner of use of the-machine is as follows v I In the proper patching of film," as is well known, the patch is made adjacent the floor line of the picture and is arrangedto maincorrect point at the next floor line and when the slides are moved forward the cut ends will properly overlap. The reason for providing the adjustable stops 18 and 19 to limit the movement of the slides is that the relation of the floor line to the sprocket hole varies somewhat with different cameras, with some cameras being opposite the hole and with others between the holes. After the proper adjustment has been made for one camera all thefilms-used'thereon can be properly patched'without any further measurement or adjustment;

To make the patch the plates 30,30 and knives 21 are swung back to allow of the film ends being laced on the table, as above set forth, the sides 6, 6- are drawn back and the knives swung I ragged ends of the film. The slide 6, above which is mounted the gauge 37, is then moved forward and the gate swung down on the film, as shown in Fig. 7 leaving that portion of the film which makes the patch projecting beyond the gauge, as indicated in Fig. 7, where the two film ends are shown in position and designated by the reference characters X and X. The photographic emulsion is then scraped from this portion and the adhesive applied thereto. The slide 6' is then moved forward. and lever 26 is down, cutting ofi the depressed to raise the pins 24 so that the end ot the film will be raised as it moves forward The gauge 37 is then allowed to swing back, and the pins 24 to drop and the arm 44 is swung down to cause the foot 47 to bear on the overlapping ends of the film, the latch 52 being swung to hold the arm in this position until the patch has hardened.

What I claim is as follows 1. In a film patching machine, separate devices for cutting each of thefilm ends at predetermined points, means for causing a relative advancement of the two portions of the film after being cut to proper overlapping position to form the patch, and a gauge element adapted to bear on one of the film portions at a selected distance from the cut end thereof,

2. Ina film patching machine, a pair of knives spaced apart to move in parallel planes, a pair of reciprocatory slides located on opposed sides of said knives and movable transversely thereto, said slides being provided with means for holding film ends in selected positions thereon, and means for limiting the movement of said slides in one direction with a selected point on the film ends registering with the said knives, and in an opposite direction with the cut filmends properly overlapping to form the pate saidlast named means comprising screws fixed in said. frame, apertured members on the slides through which the screws pass freely, and nuts threaded on said screws on opposite sides of said members.

patching machine, a pair of knives spaced apart to move in parallel planes, a pair of reciprocatory slides located on opposed sides of said knives and movable transversely thereto, saidslides being provided with means for holding film ends in selected positions thereon, means for limiting the movement of said slides in one direction with a selected point on the film ends registering with the said knives, and in an opposite direction with the cut film ends properly overlapping to form the patch, and a gauge element adapted to bear on one of the film ends at a selected distance from the severed edge when advanced in the last mentioned direction.

- 4. A film atching machine comprising a frame including a table, a pair of parallel knives hinged thereto, a pair of slides located on said table at opposed sides of said knives and movable transversely thereto, pins on said slides adapted to engage in sprocket holes of the film, a gauge element adapted to be swung down upon said table between said knives,

a presser foot adapted to press on said base between said knives,

and means limiting the movement of said slides in opposite directions;

frame including a table knives h1nged thereto, a

5; A film patching machine comprising a a pair of parallel pair of slides 10- and means limiting the between said knives, a

cated on said table at opposed sides of said knives and movable transversely thereto, pins on said slides adapted to engage in sprocket holes of the film, a gauge element adapted to beswung down upon said table between said knives, a presser foot adapted to press on said base between said knives, a member vertically movable in said table and adapted to engage the underside of one film end to raise it clear of the said base, movement of said slides in opposite directions.

6. A film patching machine comprising a frame including a table, a pair of parallel knives hinged thereto,'a pair of slides located on said table at opposed sides of said knives and movable vtransversely thereto, pins on said slides adapted to engage in sprocket holes of the film, a gauge element adapted to be swung down upon said table presser foot adapted to press on said base between said knives, and means limiting the movement of said slides inopposite directions, 'said means comprising screws fixed in said frame, tured members on the slides through which said screws pass freely, and nuts threaded on said screws on opposite sides of saidmembers.

7. A film atching machine comprisin a frame including a table, knives hinged thereto, a pair of slides located on said table at opposed sides of said knives and movable. transversely thereto, pins on said slides adapted to engage in sprocketholes in the film, a pair hinged to-said frame and adapted to pro ject over said table, a auge h1nged to one of said plates and add aper of plates pted to be swung a pair of para lel down on said table between said knives,

and a presser foot hinged to the said frame and adapted to bear yieldinglyon said table between said knives.

Signed at Brooklyn, New York city, in the county of Kings and State of New York, this 16th day of August, A. D. 1920.

WALTER CARLETON. 

